Neuropharmacology

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Neuropharmacology

Neuropharmacology (pronunciation: /ˌnʊəroʊ.fɑːr.məˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/) is the study of how drugs affect cellular function in the nervous system, and the neural mechanisms through which they influence behavior.

Etymology

The term "Neuropharmacology" is derived from the Greek words νεῦρον (neuron, "nerve") and φάρμακον (pharmakon, "drug").

Related Terms

  • Pharmacology: The branch of biology concerned with the study of drug action.
  • Neuroscience: The scientific study of the nervous system.
  • Psychopharmacology: The study of the use of medications in treating mental disorders.
  • Neurology: A branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system.
  • Neurotransmitter: Endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission.

Overview

Neuropharmacology is a very broad region of science that encompasses many aspects of the nervous system's functioning. The main goal of neuropharmacology is to improve the lives of people with neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.

Branches of Neuropharmacology

Neuropharmacology can be broadly classified into two main branches:

  • Behavioral Neuropharmacology: This branch focuses on the study of how drugs affect human behavior, including the study of how drug dependence and addiction affect the human brain.
  • Molecular Neuropharmacology: This branch focuses on the study of neurons and their neurochemical interactions, with the overall goal of developing drugs that have beneficial effects on neurological function.

See Also

External links

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